Araminta Malfoy-Potter: Taking Hogwarts

XI.

As soon as Araminta said 'Animagus' she felt her body start to change. Her arms and legs lengthened, and her eyes moved apart. Her hair stuck out behind her and she felt her forehead grow to a point.

Araminta felt herself lean forward, then heard the clip-clop of her...hooves?...on the floor. "What's happening?" she tried to say, but all that came out was a high-pitched whinny.

"You're a unicorn," said Professor McGonagall. "See?" She Transfigured the chalkboard into a mirror and Araminta saw herself fully. Her silvery mane swung from side to side as she tossed her head and pranced up to look.

When Araminta tried to talk, she couldn't, and she became very worried. She stamped her feet against the floor.

"There, there," said Professor McGonagall. She put her arms around Araminta. "Concentrate and say Finite Incantatem to yourself, and you'll be back to normal in no time."

With a pop, Araminta fell to the floor in her regular body. "How did that happen? I can't be--I can't be a unicorn!"

Professor McGonagall rummaged in her desk for a tin of ginger biscuits. "Of course you can. Actually, everyone can, if their magic is strong enough, up until the time they--well, up until the time they lose their virginity. Then their Animagus form is different, and reflects who they are as an adult. You don't hear of children turning into unicorns very often because most don't have your advanced magical skill."

"Oh," was all Araminta could think of to say.

"Also, the Animagus spell is very difficult, even for adults, so not everyone learns to find their inner animal. You may never find out what your adult Animagus form is." She stopped speaking to give Araminta a stern look. "And, in any case, you should wait some time before you try to find out."

Araminta decided that McGonagall was talking about more than just trying out spells. She thought about Blake, and decided that she could wait a little longer. She was puzzled about one other thing, though.

"Professor? How did you know that I was a strong enough witch to do the spell?

A broad smile lit up the Transfiguration professor's face. "Well, you remind me of a girl I used to know. Hurry, now, or you'll be late for Potions!"

***

XII.

Professor Snape banged his way into the classroom in a swirl of black, batlike robes. "There will be no silly wand-waving in my class," he intoned in a deep baritone voice. "I will teach the smartest of you to make potions that will bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. The dumbest of you will be lucky to get F's until I can kick you out when you don't pass your O.W.L.s. Take out your cauldrons."

Araminta hurried to put her cauldron up. She knew the Daddy Draco and the Potions professor were good friends, but Daddy Harry and the Potions professor...

He swooped down upon her desk. "Miss...Malfoy-Potter. Where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"

"In your supply closet. I bet you have a dozen in there." Snape frowned, but Araminta plunged ahead. "They're stones taken from the stomach of a goat, and they can work as an antidote for most poisons. Betcha have to keep them around to keep kids from killing themselves, eh,. Snape?"

"Don't sass me," said the Potions Master. "What if I asked you the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane?"

"I'd ask you the difference between garlic and a cross." The class snickered, and Snape got angry. He raised his voice over the crowd and asked another question.

"What would you get if you mixed asphodel and wormwood?"

"Hmmm, let me see...you were going to have that for tea, right?" Araminta posed with one finger on her cheek and ignored the worried looks Blake and Selene were shooting at her. "Oh, silly me, that's the Draught of Living Death. You must have already had some."

The class's snickers turned into full-blown laughter.

"Silence!" Snape screamed. "I will not have this in my classroom. Five points from your House, Potter-Malfoy."

"Which one, Professor Snape? All the other teachers have been giving--or taking--five points from each. Do you really want to take five points from Slytherin?"

Snape just grumbled and pointed to the instructions written on the board. An hour later, when Araminta turned in a perfect vial of potion, he refused to look at her.

"C'mon," said Selene. "Dinner, finally!"

***

XII.

: In Which Araminta is Unlucky

When the trio crossed the threshold into the Great Hall, Araminta hung back. Blake and Selene stopped, too, to see what was wrong.

"What's up, Araminta? Aren't you hungry?" asked Blake, who was eying the dishes.

"Sure," said Araminta, "but I think I'd better spend some time with my other House."

Selene sneered. "You mean the Gryffinbores? You really think they will accept you and like you? After all, you are a Slytherin."

Araminta drew herself up straight. "I may be a Slytherin, but I'm a Gryffindor too. I won't let you talk that way about either of my Houses."

Selene shut her mouth, embarrassed. Then, she grabbed Blake's hand and stormed off in a huff.

Araminta ambled over to the Gryffindor table and plopped herself down right in the middle. Might as well do it the hard way. If they were going to hate on her, she might as well find out first thing. She turned to the girl next to her and stuck out her hand. "Hi, I'm Araminta, or Minta. Last name Potter-Malfoy or Malfoy-Potter, doesn't matter which one."

The girl, who had alarmingly bright red hair, grabbed her hand and pumped it up and down. "Are you really? My name's Denise Creevey, and both my mum and dad were in Gryffindor. It's nice to meet you. Is it true that your dads are...you know...together?"

"Yes," said Araminta, without shame. Sure, they weren't often affectionate in her presence, but that didn't mean they didn't love each other like any other men. "My dads are famous, and rich, too. We live together at Malfoy Manor, which is in Wiltshire. We inherited it when my grandparents passed away."

"I'm sorry to hear that," said Denise, finally letting go of her hand.

"Don't be. They were mean people. I guess when Daddy Harry moved in, they had a fit and they both had heart attacks on the same day. All they ever do is kiss sometimes; I don't see what the big deal is." Araminta chose a hamburger and french fries from the table and added a side of macaroni and cheese.

Denise looked at her salad and then at Araminta's plate. "Are you going to eat all that?"

"Yeah," said Araminta, as she ladled herself some clam chowder into a bread bowl and poured a pumpkin milkshake to drink. "I can eat all I want and never get fat."

"Wow," sighed Denise enviously.

Just then, a rowdy pair of twin boys, with hair the same color as Denise's, bumped her from behind. Araminta's entire plate, and her milkshake, spilled on her lap and splattered her in the face. All of the Gryffindors started laughing.

"Oh, that's some rotten luck," said Denise, mopping at Araminta's robes with a paper towel. "Don't mind them."

"I don't," said Araminta, but secretly, she was worried. Would everyone remember her as the clumsy one?

Araminta closed her eyes tightly and concentrated. She reached out with her mind to touch the minds of the other Gryffindors at the table. There were too many at once for her to be able to tell exactly what they were thinking, but it wasn't so bad after all. "They're laughing with me, not at me." It was a pleasant feeling.

Araminta finished her dinner. "I've got to go. Big day tomorrow. Bye, Denise!"

"Bye, Minta!" she answered.

***

XIV.

Blake and Selene brought Araminta a dish of pudding and some apple pie for dessert. "Can you come down to the common room in the dungeons with us?"

Araminta spooned up the pudding thoughtfully. "Can't. I really have to practice."

"Practice what?"

"Oh, all sorts of things. I have singing, and Quidditch, and magic to do," said Araminta.

"Well, bye, then, see you tomorrow!" chimed Blake and Selene.

Araminta walked slowly back to her room, thinking about the day. She felt bad keeping the secret about being an Animagus from Blake and Selene, but if what Professor McGonagall had said was true, Blake and Selene could be Animagi themselves if they'd just apply themselves.

Then, there was the whole fiasco with Professor Snape--

"Excuse me, Miss Malfoy-Potter, but what are you doing wandering through the dungeons alone?"

Araminta turned around slowly to meet the assessing gaze of the Potions Master. "Oh, Professor, I was distracted, and I must have gotten lost. I was on my way to my rooms..."

Severus Snape swooped down upon her, trapping her against the wall between his arms. He put his face close, his beaky nose almost touching hers. "Where did you learn it?" he breathed. "How did you know so much already?"

"I-I-I practiced," Araminta stuttered. "I'm a good witch."

"I'm sure you are," said Snape, looking at her neck. "The question is," he said, then moved his mouth so close she could feel the words on her skin, "how good?"

He wrapped one arm behind her shoulders and drew her closer, bending her backward with his other hand in her hair. "Good," he muttered, and Araminta put her hands on his chest and pushed hard.

"No, no!" she cried out, but he squeezed her tighter and ran his tongue over her collarbone.

"Yesssss."

"No!" she shouted again, then made her body limp and fell to the floor. She drew her wand and sprang up to curse the man, but she found herself alone in the corridor. Where was the Potions Master? Araminta turned in a circle. What had just happened?

Shaking her head, Araminta decided it was all a dream and headed off to bed.

***

XV.

In the morning, Araminta got up early so she could spend some time with Fawkes-Iolanthe. Fawkes-Iolanthe was more than just Araminta's pet phoenix; she carried her mail and translated it into different languages so she could have penpals all over the world.

"Come here, love." Araminta brushed Fawkes-Iolanthe's feathers, and cuddled her to her breast. "Shall we sing?"

Fawkes-Iolanthe fluttered to her perch and spread her wings, signaling that she was ready to begin. She tipped her head back and made an accompaniment sing forth from her throat.

"Oldies again?" Araminta sighed. "Oh, all right." She began to sing along with Fawkes-Iolanthe's rendition of Wake Me Up Inside by Evanescence.

How can you see into my eyes

Like open doors?

Leading you down into me core

Where I've become so numb...

Without a soul ,

My spirit's sleeping somewhere cold

Until you find it there and lead it back

Home.

Wake me up inside,

Wake me up inside,

Call my name and save me from the dark

Bid my blood to run

Before I come undone

Save me from the nothing I've become

Araminta stopped. She had had the vague feeling that she didn't belong, that she'd been having nightmares all night, and Fawkes-Iolanthe always picked a song that matched her mood somehow. "I don't want to sing this anymore," she said.

She tossed Fawkes-Iolanthe a phoenix treat and walked to the window. Maybe she would practice her Animagus skills. She popped into unicorn form and back a few times before growing bored with that.

Breakfast wasn't for another fifteen minutes. Araminta took out her schedule and looked at it carefully. She'd start the morning with Charms, then History of Magic before lunch. Next was the Astronomy lecture and a flying lesson. Bor-ing.

Araminta danced around the room a little--she was a good enough ballerina to have gone to Covent Garden, but she wanted to be a witch instead--then fixed her hair and makeup. Packing up her things in her schoolbag, she headed to breakfast.

After a big stack of waffles, Blake and Selene hurried in just in time for a glass of pumpkin juice. "Hurry, or we'll be late," said Araminta said, exasperated. "Why are you two so late?"

Blake and Selene exchanged secret glances. "Oh, no reason. No reason at all."

Araminta was suspicious. Blake looked like he was wearing a little of the same lipstick Selene had on, and there was glitter on his collar. But they weren't holding hands, so Araminta decided to give them the benefit of the doubt.

***

XVI.

Professor Flitwick was too short to see over his podium, so he had charmed a little cushion and he sat on it as it flew around the room to each student so he could check their work. "Very good," he said, when he saw what Araminta had written about the Wingardium Leviosa charm.

Blake was still grumbling about having an essay to write during the very first class. "Shush," said Selene, grumpily. Araminta could tell that she didn't like writing essays either, but was trying not to let Flitwick know.

"Okay, class, now you try it. Be sure to say WinGARdium LeviOsa, or the whole thing might blow up in your face."

Soon, shouts of "WINgardium LEViosa" and WindgardiUM LevioSA" were echoing around the room. What is everyone's problem? thought Araminta. Latin pronunciation was really, really easy. It had nice, pure vowels and was something easy to say.

"WinGARdium LeviOsa," she cried, and her feather hopped into the air.

"Very good! Look, Miss Potter-Malfoy's done it! Take ten points."

Araminta couldn't help it. She just wanted to show off a little. With another swish and flick of her wand, she levitated the Charms professor into the air and sailed him around the room. Then, she floated all of her classmates into the air.

"Whee," yelled Blake encouragingly. "This is just like magic!"

"Of course it is, stupid," said Selene, snippily, as she pulled her robes tighter so that her underwear wouldn't show. "It is magic. It's a charm." Selene was a stronger witch then she looked. She waved her wand at herself and said, "Finite Incantatem!" so that she would fall back down to the floor.

Araminta wasn't bothered by this. She was laughing so hard she thought she would bust a gut. "Watch this!"

The floating students began to spin crazily around the room, so it looked like Araminta was juggling them all. A few of them looked a little green, but she knew they'd feel fine once she put them back down. She was going to give them just one more spin around, but before she could, the door to the Charms classroom swung open and Albus Dumbledore stood there, angrier than Araminta had ever seen him.

"What is the meaning of this?" he shouted.

***

XVII.

Araminta was so surprised that she let go the spell and everyone tumbled to the floor. "I-I-I didn't mean to." She burst into tears. She really had respect for Albus Dumbledore, and now he was angry. "I'm sorry everyone."

"We forgive you," chorused the students and Professor Flitwick. Dumbledore looked slightly mollified, but he still wasn't happy.

"Get your things and follow me, please."

Araminta followed Albus Dumbledore down the hall and to a really ugly statue called a gargoyle. "Pixie sticks," he said. Nothing happened. "Ha ha ha," said Dumbledore. "I forgot I changed the password. Mountain Dew!"

The gargoyle moved aside and an escalator took them to Dumbledore's office. "Here we are. Get off."

Araminta stepped into Dumbledore's office. It smelled very godfather-ish, like peppermints and pipe tobacco. Underneath it all there was a gentle scent like Vicks Vaporub, too. Dumbledore is getting old. I shouldn't worry him.

"I'm sorry to have worried you, sir," said Araminta.

"Well, you should know that I'm still worried. Very worried, in fact." Dumbledore surveyed Araminta with his twinkling blue eyes over his half-moon spectacles. "I'm worried about you."

"About...me?" Araminta twisted her hands together. Why should he be worried about her? She was probably acing all her classes already, she hadn't gotten into trouble--much--and she had made friends in two Houses. What was there to worry about?

"I'm afraid that we aren't providing you with enough of a challenge." Albus Dumbledore sighed deeply. He was worried that Araminta would be bored and would get into as much trouble as her fathers had when they had been at Hogwarts.

Araminta swallowed. This couldn't be a good thing.

Dumbledore rose to his feet and paced around the room three times before he went on. "I'm sure you've heard the tales about the trouble your fathers got into when they were your age. But that's not what's worrying me..." He shook his head. "I'm worried about--well, you'll find out in due time. It's not for me to tell. In the meantime, I have a stopgap measure. Come here."

He motioned her closer and took her onto his lap. Then, he reached into his pocket and pulled something out. "Have you ever seen one of these before?"

***

XVIII.

Araminta couldn't keep from staring. No, she hadn't seen anything like that. What an odd shape, and what a funny color...Araminta reached out and grasped it in her hand.

"Careful," said Dumbledore. "Not too tightly now."

"It's so strange," said Araminta, as Dumbledore put it up close to her face so she could see. "Does it do anything?"

"Yes, it does," replied Dumbledore, with an ecstatic grin on his face. "If you put the chain around your neck, and turn it three times, you can go back in time about an hour. It's a Time-Turner."

"Oh, wow," breathed Araminta. "A Time-Turner. For me?"

Dumbledore ruffled her hair. "Yes, for you. In fact, it's been many years since we last had such a bright witch as yourself at Hogwarts, so it is only fitting that you have it now. You can use it to do hours over again, and take all of our most advanced classes. I've written out a new schedule for you already." He handed it to her.

"But these are all seventh year classes!" Araminta exclaimed. "I'll get picked on."

Dumbledore held up a hand. "Don't trouble yourself. I've already thought of that." He lifted her down onto the floor. "You'll simply have to be a seventh year."

"What do you mean?" asked Araminta. "I have clothes and makeup that make me look older, but I can't just be older. That takes time."

"Yes and no. I can put an aging spell on you, and you'll be a seventh year. What do you say?"

It only took a second for Araminta to decide. "I say yes," she squealed happily.

"Come here, then, my child," said Dumbledore. He drew his wand and ran it up and down her spine. "Seventeen, please. Now, run along to bed, and when you wake up again, you'll be ready for seventh year."

"Thanks, Papa Dumbledore." Araminta gave the older man a bear hug and then she ran off to get her beauty rest.

***

XIX.

The moon sneaked in between the curtains and slithered its way down onto Araminta's face. Normally, this wouldn't have awakened her, but she was having growing pains. Her eyes flashed open in the half-darkness and she moaned.

When she turned into her Animagus form, it didn't hurt like this. However, the aging spell caused her legs and arms to grow long and shapely. Her hips flared and her chest swelled as she watched. Her hair lengthened by itself and wound around her knees.

"Oh, my," she cried out, and her voice came out husky and dark like when you've had a cold and you sound like Kathleen Turner. It frightened her a little.

Araminta stumbled over to her mirror and stared at herself. She looked like a woman now, not a little girl. In fact, she finally looked the age she felt. She'd fit right in with the seventh year students in the morning.

A sharp pain pinched her right on her flat belly, and she felt a strange sensation in her nether regions. Then, she felt something she'd never felt before. "Oh my goodness! I'm going to die!"

Araminta didn't stop to think or to put on her bunny slippers, she just ran right straight out into the corridor as fast as she could. "Help, oh, help." She tried to scream, but all that came out was a forlorn little croak.

A tall, dark figure sauntered around the corner and stopped dead in its tracks. "Nar-Narcissa? Is that you? I thought you were dead." Severus Snape came out of the shadows looking dumbstruck. "You're young again. How can this be?" He raised a hand to Araminta's face and caressed it softly. "Am I dreaming? You feel so real...you smell so good."

Araminta shook her head and covered her mouth with her hands. Snape pulled them away and moved closer. "Don't hide from me, love. If this is but a dream, don't pretend it is a nightmare. It has been years since I saw you last, and you look as beautiful."

In all of Araminta's dreams about her first kiss (not counting Blake, because he was only a boy and not a man), she had never dreamed that it would come from a mysterious older man in the middle of a drafty, dark corridor in the wee hours of the morning. She felt like she was outside of her body, watching it all happen. It was the same but different from her dream last night. Was she a Seer too?

She saw Professor Snape's eyes grow dark and unfathomable, and his lips parted. He whispered something against her mouth and then leaned down to trap her lips between his. From outside her body, Araminta saw herself close her eyes and let him taste her with his supple tongue. He began to plant soft butterfly kisses on her eyelids and jawbone, and then laved his tongue down her neck.

"Stop it!" said Araminta, scared of what she felt. Besides, she still had something else on her mind. "I need to see Madam Pomfrey, please! I'm bleeding!"

Snape gasped and swept her up in his arms and sprinted toward the Hospital Wing with his cape flapping behind him.

***

XX.

Madam Pomfrey took one look at Araminta and sent Professor Snape away, tutting and muttering to herself. "Dear child, has no one told you what it means to be a woman?"

"Um, no," said Araminta, trying to hide her little problem. "What does that have to do with me? I'm dying. Please help me."

Madam Pomfrey rolled her eyes and gave Araminta a starter kit of 'girl stuff.' "Read the instructions to use this and then we'll talk." When Araminta came back from the bathroom looking very embarrassed, Madam Pomfrey sat her down and gave her a talk about the birds and the bees.

Araminta thought it was fascinating. "So all of these things--these changes..." She contemplated her larger chest for a moment. "All of these things are part of becoming a real witch?"

"Yes," said Madam Pomfrey. "You'll be even stronger than you were before. Be careful in the next few days. You don't want to hurt anybody with your new powers by accident."

Feeling much better, Araminta got ready to go back to bed. When she went into the hall, Professor Snape was waiting there. "Narcissa," he yelled when he saw her and came running.

When he got up close, he looked very disappointed. "You're not Narcissa after all."

Araminta put her hand on his arm. "No, I'm Araminta Malfoy-Potter. I'm sorry I couldn't tell you before. I was too worried about how this aging spell was working. I didn't know that I was just turning into a woman--I thought I was about to die."

Snape nodded and a tear trickled down the side of his face. "I'm sorry that I took advantage of you. I really did think you were Narcissa."

"It was a case of mistaken identity," Araminta reassured him. "I know it will never happen again, and I forgive you." She hugged Professor Snape briefly, and then gave him a goodnight kiss on the cheek. "I'm sure there's another Narcissa out there for you."

Professor Severus Snape brightened up considerably. "Yeah, I bet there is. Maybe I should put a personal ad in the Daily Prophet. What do you think?"

"I think that is a wonderful idea," laughed Araminta. Taking his arm, she let Snape escort her back to her room.